So, what’s the Point?

Now, if you’re reading this you might be wondering, what’s the point of this blog? Aren’t there already tons of book blogs out there?

And my answer to you would be yes! There most certainly tons of book blogs out there. What I hope to accomplish is to share my thoughts with you about the fantasy and paranormal books I read. Not just any thoughts though. I really want to look at certain aspects of these fantasy and paranormal books that I read particularly world building, characterization, and diversity. Now, I want to share these particular aspects with you because these are the parts of books that to me take a book from kinda just meh to being a really great novel worth sharing. Now, let me break down these three aspects down.

World building

This is a little bit more important in fantasy novels in my personal opinion, but is still helpful in a paranormal novel as well. When I purchase a fantasy novel I want to be swept away into a world unlike my own. I read as a form of escapism and so a new, well written world is paramount to my enjoyment. That means I want a world with its own history, it’s own culture, and even its own races. Paranormal is a little different for me since it really takes places in what is suppose to be our current world. So, the best thing a paranormal novel could do for me when it comes to reading is seamlessly add in supernatural elements and races in such a way that it seems totally possible they could have existed with us all along. Now, I’m sure there will always be excepts to everything I just listed, but this is my starting point.

Characterization

The most important thing in any novel ever! If you don’t have great characters I don’t care if you have the best world ever or anything else really. I need great, well developed characters. I want back stories and flaws and struggle. I want to really get to know the characters in the book otherwise I just don’t care and I want them to be realistic. Insta-love and hand wavy explanations are cheap writing.

Diversity

We live in a diverse world full of diverse places and people. There is no reason for every fantasy novel to be set in what is basically medieval Europe with a completely white, completely hetero, gender binary, etc. characters. We’re better than that and people of all sorts deserve representation. Now, that’s not to say a book is awful if it’s set in medieval Europe with a completely stereotypical cast , but just that it’s not necessarily the most original idea.

If you’re interested in these aspects of books as well then stick around and join me on this crazy journey!